August 21, 1999
Web posted at: 8:06 p.m. EDT (0006 GMT)

In his Saturday radio address, Clinton called for putting $1 billion in next year's budget for his "lands legacy" initiative, which would be used to acquire or improve 110 parks and historic sites in 40 states and territories.

He also called for making the $1 billion annual funding permanent beginning in 2001.

Clinton wants $1 billion for his "lands legacy" initiative

"In too many places, vital pieces of this heritage are disappearing. Once lost, they can't be replaced," Clinton said.

Republicans in Congress have cut Clinton's request by two- thirds, and the president charged that they were sacrificing preservation efforts to fund their $792 billion tax cut, which he has vowed to veto.

"The Republican leadership's risky tax plan would actually roll back our progress," Clinton said. "It would cut funding to our national parks, even threaten to shut some of them down."

But a key Republican House leader fired back that "there isn't a single aspect" of the GOP tax cut plan that will hurt the environment.

"This is just one more attempt by President Clinton to scare the American public with threats of dire consequences if sound Republican ideas are implemented," said Rep. J.C. Watts (R-Oklahoma.) "So far, not a single one of his dire predictions has come true."

Republicans insist that because tax collections are outpacing expenditures, taxes should be reduced to return this "overpayment" to the American people. They have also accused Clinton of trying to use the surplus on new spending programs that will expand the reach of the federal government.

"We believe the American people deserve a refund when they overpay their taxes," said Sen. Pete Domenici (R-New Mexico) in the GOP's Saturday radio address. "(Clinton) wants to keep all the money in Washington and give none back to overtaxed American families."

Clinton's "land legacy" plan also has critics who say it represents more of a failed policy of government ownership of land.

"The federal government owns too much land. It owns 29 percent of the country," said Myron Ebell of the Competitive Enterprise Institute. "We don't need more federal land. We need better federal land management, and we need to help private landowners be better stewards."

In his radio address, Clinton also announced that the U.S. Forest Service has reached an agreement to buy more than 9,000 acres of grassland in Montana north of Yellowstone National Park for $13 million.

The land will provide a winter grazing ground for the park's bison heard, as well as protecting underwater springs that feed Old Faithful and other Yellowstone geysers, Clinton said.

"We'll ensure that Old Faithful remains faithful for years to come," he said.

Saturday, August 21, 1999

• Clinton charges GOP tax cuts would jeopardize national parks
• Clinton reminisces about falling in love with Hillary
• Domenici uses GOP address to promote tax cuts
• President announces Yellowstone land purchase in radio talk

ARCHIVES